Coverage of MG's assessment leadership

The Cap Times has a nice article about the MG use of the EPAS (Explore, Plan, ACT) test and how we are using them to improve achievement. This sort of thing is excellent publicity for our district and communities.

Known primarily as a college entrance examination, ACT Inc. also provides a battery of other tests for younger students. Monona Grove is using these tests -- the Explore tests for grades 8 and 9, and the Plan tests for grades 10 and 11 -- to paint an annual picture of each student's academic skills and what he or she needs to focus on to be ready to take on the challenges of post-secondary education or the work force. The tests are given midway through the first semester, and results are ready a month later.

"We're very, very interested in what Monona Grove is doing," says Pam Nash, assistant superintendent for secondary education for the Madison district. "We've heard our state is looking at ACT as a possible replacement for the WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam), and the intrinsic reliability of the ACT is well known. The WKCE is so unrelated to the students. The scores come in so late, it's not useful.

"By contrast, ACT reports are a personal response with information about the student's strengths and where they need to build skills. It's what they want, and what parents want."